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| Chapter XXVI
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Chapter
XXVI.
Let us see what Celsus says next, when he adduces
from history marvellous occurrences, which in themselves seem to be
incredible, but which are not discredited by him, so far at least as
appears from his words. And, in the first place, regarding
Aristeas of Proconnesus, of whom he speaks as follows:
“Then, with respect to Aristeas of Proconnesus, who disappeared
from among men in a manner so indicative of divine
intervention,3512
and who showed
himself again in so unmistakeable a fashion, and on many subsequent
occasions visited many parts of the world, and announced marvellous
events, and whom Apollo enjoined the inhabitants of Metapontium to
regard as a god, no one considers him to be a god.” This
account he appears to have taken from Pindar and Herodotus. It
will be sufficient, however, at present to quote the statement of the
latter writer from the fourth book of his histories, which is to the
following effect: “Of what country Aristeas, who made these
verses, was, has already been mentioned, and I shall now relate the
account I heard of him in Proconnesus and Cyzicus. They say that
Aristeas, who was inferior to none of the citizens by birth, entering
into a fuller’s shop in Proconnesus, died suddenly, and that the
fuller, having closed his workshop, went to acquaint the relatives of
the deceased. When the report had spread through the city that
Aristeas was dead, a certain Cyzicenian, arriving from Artace, fell
into a dispute with those who made the report, affirming that he had
met and conversed with him on his way to Cyzicus, and he vehemently
disputed the truth of the report; but the relations of the deceased
went to the fuller’s shop, taking with them what was necessary
for the purpose of carrying the body away; but when the house was
opened, Aristeas was not to be seen, either dead or alive. They
say that afterwards, in the seventh year, he appeared in Proconnesus,
composed those verses which by the Greeks are now called Arimaspian,
and having composed them, disappeared a second time. Such is the
story current in these cities. But these things I know happened
to the Metapontines in Italy 340 years after the second disappearance
of Aristeas, as I discovered by computation in Proconnesus and
Metapontium. The Metapontines say that Aristeas himself, having
appeared in their country, exhorted them to erect an altar to Apollo,
and to place near it a statue bearing the name of Aristeas the
Proconnesian; for he said that Apollo had visited their country only of
all the Italians, and that he himself, who was now Aristeas,
accompanied him; and that when he accompanied the god he was a crow;
and after saying this he vanished. And the Metapontines say they
sent to Delphi to inquire of the god what the apparition of the man
meant; but the Pythian bade them obey the apparition, and if they
obeyed it would conduce to their benefit. They accordingly,
having received this answer, fulfilled the injunctions. And now,
a statue bearing the name of Aristeas is placed near the image of
Apollo, and around it laurels are planted: the image is placed in
the public square. Thus much concerning Aristeas.”3513
| 3513 Herod., book iv.
chaps. 14 and 15 (Cary’s transl.). | E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
